tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110965722024-03-16T20:51:44.686+02:00Хансакерська Хата(...чи Хансакеры в Херсоне?)<br>Stories and photos from the daily life of "the Ukrainian Hunsuckers"Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.comBlogger1786125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-64453470700881960502024-03-01T10:54:00.002+02:002024-03-08T14:49:01.412+02:00Another good thing<p>We're going to Lithuania! We have wanted to do a family trip since last year, but it just hasn't been possible. Now we're going to go for Spring Break and Bogdan's birthday. I have worked really hard to pull everything together to find the cheapest and best travel options. Travel is so complicated here now. We'll be gone for eight days, and a full half of that is travel time. I made a dated checklist of when the different kinds of tickets for each leg of the trip would go on sale, and I finally worked through all that. When Raia first started talking about LCC it was just a few hours on a low cost airline to hop to Lithuania. Now it's all this. But we're going, and we're excited.<br /></p><p>Yes, we're going to have to leave this poor little fluffball behind again:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2Jjpd3Prc1CirYB2j3YnASW6B_qtcp9slIqQy2-KSP9-l4pvwEpLQ3fWOoYFmHw4824fZ5Tn7UZifAheVfOtGU2gyFOKARbh-8dwXp6ORLHGlvKANKdez0FsYcJoUmdvX1LA1FWCvO4DgWQ-tAJ8SmPYFzCPrk8DCqtew49cUz6FVZiPKmJb/s2048/IMG_0303.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2Jjpd3Prc1CirYB2j3YnASW6B_qtcp9slIqQy2-KSP9-l4pvwEpLQ3fWOoYFmHw4824fZ5Tn7UZifAheVfOtGU2gyFOKARbh-8dwXp6ORLHGlvKANKdez0FsYcJoUmdvX1LA1FWCvO4DgWQ-tAJ8SmPYFzCPrk8DCqtew49cUz6FVZiPKmJb/s320/IMG_0303.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Can you see how he's clinging to Bogdan with both front and back paws?
That was just about going out into the scary stairwell. Leo doesn't know
about the trip yet. But he had a wonderful time with friends when we
went to Kherson, and he'll be staying with different friends this time.Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-42053589196320042262024-02-23T12:45:00.000+02:002024-02-23T12:45:12.963+02:00Good things<p>Facebook shows me that the last photo I posted before the full-scale invasion was snowdrops in Kherson. Here are some snowdrops in Ivano-Frankivsk: <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi538f1sQ05Q_FAAMpZ7cjw5Y_QIMqDyqUbCKZEI8Oks4NmS0ByXe53Ohh5bNDf7TyQ1sTCBWacSVMSuQBMw-gs5BMkVk55spfMzdqBcP_5p15tbuRVC6clxwjvGVeGfYC_1GgkvBJzF4OHJ6ciQeht6ZvJhu79VBYu8d0UsVRqk0_-VgjluL7u/s2048/IMG_0247.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi538f1sQ05Q_FAAMpZ7cjw5Y_QIMqDyqUbCKZEI8Oks4NmS0ByXe53Ohh5bNDf7TyQ1sTCBWacSVMSuQBMw-gs5BMkVk55spfMzdqBcP_5p15tbuRVC6clxwjvGVeGfYC_1GgkvBJzF4OHJ6ciQeht6ZvJhu79VBYu8d0UsVRqk0_-VgjluL7u/s320/IMG_0247.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Tomorrow will be two years since we've had a day without war.<br /></p><p>I tend not to write much here when there’s nothing good to say, and there’s been too much of that lately. Well, I can always find little good things, but they might not be much to write about. However, lately we’ve had a few big good things. </p><p>Raia made the honors list at LCC! And actually Jaan’s grades are also just a fraction of a point behind hers. I’ve never thought grades are a big deal, but after raising them basically without grades, it’s fun to see success there. </p><p>We’ve made contact with a lawyer about Raia’s Ukrainian documents. Any time I ask a document question online, the sharks circle in. I had given up on finding a lawyer who doesn’t start off by asking for a ton of money. This time, though, a nice Christian woman wrote to me and offered to help. We hope and pray that she might be able to get somewhere with this. </p><p>I’ve been able to help with the Young Life club for kids with disabilities a few times. Last week I was supposed to be there, but got sick. Their craft was making picture frames, and each kid got a photo of himself or herself from an earlier meeting. One boy who I had worked with before got a photo of himself with me. Apparently he went around asking where I was by pointing at me in it. (He doesn’t usually speak.) And then the club leader sent me a video where he actually did say my name! I cried. </p><p>Asya and I are going to the first part of a volunteer program today. We will be studying one weekend a month at the Christian college, learning to be better wartime volunteers. </p><p>And <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/235435492815129/posts/345252361833441/">Bogdan won a first place award in a music contest</a>!</p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-20497831002783579352024-01-31T12:58:00.000+02:002024-01-31T12:58:00.135+02:00Advent 2023<p>I was going to put an Advent photo in our prayer letter, but the activities of the church here in Ivano-Frankivsk aren't secret, so I can add some more and post them here. Asya and I have been doing the baby/preschool Sunday school group here in Ivano-Frankivsk. We usually have 5 little displaced Khersonites (although 2 of them were born here) to enjoy on Sunday mornings. Advent with Sunday school was a special treat this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhZMHidnDCrvly_798SsUw8O1UljhrKQB3r17UU0zZibvQGfrJXzuI11v_R-8TXJo6CpiGZs5mRGjIG6gfM4noUPFHK32XP1YzyyYBnqFCBNE8kBKkw904VzM16Zhw4koRl7BrgQ2QHjBIMJtGCLKm3GrjwsG6QE-EyrHAejIHg5ECV1nhjpJ/s4032/IMG_6851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhZMHidnDCrvly_798SsUw8O1UljhrKQB3r17UU0zZibvQGfrJXzuI11v_R-8TXJo6CpiGZs5mRGjIG6gfM4noUPFHK32XP1YzyyYBnqFCBNE8kBKkw904VzM16Zhw4koRl7BrgQ2QHjBIMJtGCLKm3GrjwsG6QE-EyrHAejIHg5ECV1nhjpJ/s320/IMG_6851.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwvTdKUaHVK09tie5_UY-jYGx1EpYi1UrUqM0KqX2GER-I4tjOd9ih86StP_CdyTHSIK96LDkXLU0Qdd9B0rGc3jvY1LKUGusj0BFVIqlcVB9nn2oZErEwnzgBDmbrtvmfRmmVNLWBNfIrT_aRe3yym_gdMZHMxyL8ykKEKAF8_DRsY9-zxXJ/s4032/IMG_6860.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwvTdKUaHVK09tie5_UY-jYGx1EpYi1UrUqM0KqX2GER-I4tjOd9ih86StP_CdyTHSIK96LDkXLU0Qdd9B0rGc3jvY1LKUGusj0BFVIqlcVB9nn2oZErEwnzgBDmbrtvmfRmmVNLWBNfIrT_aRe3yym_gdMZHMxyL8ykKEKAF8_DRsY9-zxXJ/s320/IMG_6860.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r3PoSlak-7VDVzbUhM5JfLGnArtXMwpbjmaICl3BhBz7YLWqpDitssI8ftn4KNj1wkbJDSTSDFDDjQbeuaepRATeNvO7JmZCA5oacjjheZS6TcNYWrhEDhPxO0SxuMF33R5MP9CXknuUs8pZFhgguGsowZUro8aaxQeRj6YJdjwXHalvDmZW/s4032/IMG_6863.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r3PoSlak-7VDVzbUhM5JfLGnArtXMwpbjmaICl3BhBz7YLWqpDitssI8ftn4KNj1wkbJDSTSDFDDjQbeuaepRATeNvO7JmZCA5oacjjheZS6TcNYWrhEDhPxO0SxuMF33R5MP9CXknuUs8pZFhgguGsowZUro8aaxQeRj6YJdjwXHalvDmZW/s320/IMG_6863.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9S3rGaFttA0rDEGo1kI8kltIqzTsiL-wFo6HIhJb9ucf8PCE9FW8e3uvF5jUYxiYE1mDKqCCcru-SDDcVXsQ2TkRTfOUpW9OEQuywLHFf4ldAuN6Z-dBWiNYhohC_VEdPrFY_P0Wvcbvku8n9A1x4K9o0haAeHitH3t7S9E1vPyYKcVhFjJjy/s1280/IMG_9902.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9S3rGaFttA0rDEGo1kI8kltIqzTsiL-wFo6HIhJb9ucf8PCE9FW8e3uvF5jUYxiYE1mDKqCCcru-SDDcVXsQ2TkRTfOUpW9OEQuywLHFf4ldAuN6Z-dBWiNYhohC_VEdPrFY_P0Wvcbvku8n9A1x4K9o0haAeHitH3t7S9E1vPyYKcVhFjJjy/s320/IMG_9902.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdbcR7VD4giRRRjxkUdZaTekVywH65h3GhIwss3toEw4YpDZRkpQyuG9lmy0LypFNS1tBiyotws48Pupli0_9C9qTOWCjnFdxidwNII7iuo8qmOiM3a1s4fdKirciQH-7IR5lE8vsZkt7sevnxeEiswbW2XiRhyEo4__DgwyMbLqz_u1zhN7v/s1280/IMG_9896.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdbcR7VD4giRRRjxkUdZaTekVywH65h3GhIwss3toEw4YpDZRkpQyuG9lmy0LypFNS1tBiyotws48Pupli0_9C9qTOWCjnFdxidwNII7iuo8qmOiM3a1s4fdKirciQH-7IR5lE8vsZkt7sevnxeEiswbW2XiRhyEo4__DgwyMbLqz_u1zhN7v/s320/IMG_9896.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-70875231009036059182024-01-25T13:45:00.002+02:002024-01-25T16:06:29.406+02:00Camp(s)<p>I saw Bogdan off to Young Life winter camp this morning. He loved this camp last year. This year we didn't think he would be able to go, but it worked out beyond what we expected. The only problem is that his friend from here--the one he was so looking forward to going with like last year--came down with chicken pox and had to stay home. But a friend from Kherson, who was here then went home at the start of the school year, is back now for this camp, so Bogdan has her and his friend's sister to keep him company. Plus, he makes friends well. I'm sure he'll have a wonderful time. All the rain we got here last night apparently came down as snow in the mountains, so they're all looking forward to sledding and other snow fun.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnYO2E9BJXaM00ww0n6i7LnHu825JQpxvmdzT1HGXOdW0hkCoXkkB4KGhbpPorkHSrEhdPI2l_zLkrHoSRv-syq7ht6VgwVbK3hEIhH-4Bui1h4mnDNkY014dgONOjD8DLj7DEJSuXng9kNa4ElINM9cmacPNrayonW1YU-ocn3d1AWE893xw/s4032/IMG_9887.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnYO2E9BJXaM00ww0n6i7LnHu825JQpxvmdzT1HGXOdW0hkCoXkkB4KGhbpPorkHSrEhdPI2l_zLkrHoSRv-syq7ht6VgwVbK3hEIhH-4Bui1h4mnDNkY014dgONOjD8DLj7DEJSuXng9kNa4ElINM9cmacPNrayonW1YU-ocn3d1AWE893xw/s320/IMG_9887.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfwZ7UBOS8atBJOF9dvq-RZ-0INlQjO97HHgcC8k67oOQj4h8t5jJyNQ_A7LhDXrBh5HyivH0KYx7-tSv84Etla_Y2HSWV9N7jn48OWe9Qus4yIZe7PGPkTYdulVZ22YCm7_6wdoL6J6fqR5PaLPINQKzP6HLr9FqbDaDkeLE8hRF6c2KOsP8/s3024/IMG_9892.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfwZ7UBOS8atBJOF9dvq-RZ-0INlQjO97HHgcC8k67oOQj4h8t5jJyNQ_A7LhDXrBh5HyivH0KYx7-tSv84Etla_Y2HSWV9N7jn48OWe9Qus4yIZe7PGPkTYdulVZ22YCm7_6wdoL6J6fqR5PaLPINQKzP6HLr9FqbDaDkeLE8hRF6c2KOsP8/s320/IMG_9892.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Se4Xu-88OMFF8TjYUtZaT5Z5xu_GGoRCEdNN4fvsJN8ZMK1lBx5xraC2wDqlnpTkvAK2D1EaQ_piEw96XPVmo35hNPhfVpirs89IQ3ubIWB6wihIv6MTVIhSIDNZwpy36lic8Pj-39hjF6yEESjIsT2Xb6ZQWsnjJx4KhrVecUcHkJjzp-pz/s4032/IMG_9889.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Se4Xu-88OMFF8TjYUtZaT5Z5xu_GGoRCEdNN4fvsJN8ZMK1lBx5xraC2wDqlnpTkvAK2D1EaQ_piEw96XPVmo35hNPhfVpirs89IQ3ubIWB6wihIv6MTVIhSIDNZwpy36lic8Pj-39hjF6yEESjIsT2Xb6ZQWsnjJx4KhrVecUcHkJjzp-pz/s320/IMG_9889.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The ice we braved to get to the train</b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>There are no "OPSEC"* challenges for this camp, no threats of various military strikes, only fun, snow, and mountains. I'm taking my morning off from homeschooling Bogdan to go back through Kherson camp memories and photos, the ones that can't be shared here. Hopefully I'll get something written up to share in email. It's so hard to know what to say.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Edited to add: I’ve already gotten two photos from camp. That’s Bogdan in the lead, rolling down the hill:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9yBuB7jM9tI5OkBmCp0UP3IPlXnwgzQkUDVi6Cden7Kg1ag5-dUjDpVhn6KhH0Ni6LEOyFAD4VCSXhXQ8MWZJa9lr2D9dJ11BXthTpdiuc5I8KrZKjGfX4A103g9jeBOy-uUdHAj-tIJM41vtd6pqFuxM50l9_-MZmA6beZQ6tGc_Y_pdvgA/s1280/IMG_9912.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9yBuB7jM9tI5OkBmCp0UP3IPlXnwgzQkUDVi6Cden7Kg1ag5-dUjDpVhn6KhH0Ni6LEOyFAD4VCSXhXQ8MWZJa9lr2D9dJ11BXthTpdiuc5I8KrZKjGfX4A103g9jeBOy-uUdHAj-tIJM41vtd6pqFuxM50l9_-MZmA6beZQ6tGc_Y_pdvgA/s320/IMG_9912.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoP6vYQP4uZkRtyR01Jp6asJeQQ8YvtdZ2F9_fTSFMH8yrosD9nDykdIpRdZLnbNEMvm7d3Z0hyphenhyphenaaINXk65KYoctIoAoI9W2669-gAc51K28YAdmg3fvow5gh3Jr_6JBhSKWRlgJuANp2YntLDBD19oGVnzEj137xxtOl4-grhSutvZxaxFBIm/s1280/IMG_9913.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoP6vYQP4uZkRtyR01Jp6asJeQQ8YvtdZ2F9_fTSFMH8yrosD9nDykdIpRdZLnbNEMvm7d3Z0hyphenhyphenaaINXk65KYoctIoAoI9W2669-gAc51K28YAdmg3fvow5gh3Jr_6JBhSKWRlgJuANp2YntLDBD19oGVnzEj137xxtOl4-grhSutvZxaxFBIm/s320/IMG_9913.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Almost all my military-type vocabulary is in Ukrainian, but that actually popped into my head in English, so I used it.</span><br /></p><p></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-10667776038918865302024-01-05T14:57:00.000+02:002024-01-05T14:57:32.212+02:00The holidays<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq_qb_kEqpONM-71LslBPccQZRHz7Q0XiVJKWnvpi5qIrOaZTP6IPVcRnBQvGRrSmsMD2AtVq13lYy6Wk4ASV9Jmgk3u7VAgBuXj_5t5lwq0CgbYbZK2zn4QaUAh2WMdp-Bj0gWcic2w5sigrWbDcSg_ZEoWn4_t-e7iMkDSRjk9R-6o5KJdq/s4000/viber%20image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq_qb_kEqpONM-71LslBPccQZRHz7Q0XiVJKWnvpi5qIrOaZTP6IPVcRnBQvGRrSmsMD2AtVq13lYy6Wk4ASV9Jmgk3u7VAgBuXj_5t5lwq0CgbYbZK2zn4QaUAh2WMdp-Bj0gWcic2w5sigrWbDcSg_ZEoWn4_t-e7iMkDSRjk9R-6o5KJdq/s320/viber%20image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>
Here's the beginning of an article (from <a href="https://telegra.ph/A-toj-tret%D1%96j-praznik--Svyate-Vodohreshcha-01-04">Єдині</a>) I read today: </p><blockquote><p><span class="HwtZe" lang="en"><span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">Probably, this year, each of us heard the phrase from acquaintances that the Christmas holidays passed too quickly, and the mood is not festive at all... Perhaps this is connected with the shift of the holiday period in connection with the transition of the Ukrainian church to the New Julian calendar.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">Maybe because there was no snow or frost.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">Yes, I think it is because Ukraine is losing its best sons and daughters in the war every day, and the news from the front, unfortunately, does not add optimism.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">But, despite everything, we should celebrate.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">Not loudly and pompously, but quietly, in the family circle, thanking those who give us such an opportunity.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">We must preserve our traditions not only for ourselves, but also for future generations.</span></span>...</span></p></blockquote><p>The article then goes on to tell about the holiday of the Baptism of Christ, which used to be towards the end of January and now is January 6, tomorrow. <br /></p><p>So, yes, our holidays are already coming to an end, and yes, they felt short and strange and mixed up. (Although, here in Ivano-Frankivsk, it seems like the Catholics are really trying to hold on to the old calendar, so we might not see Baptism until January 19.) Yesterday we returned from Kherson, today Raia left for Lithuania, Monday will be the start of lessons, homeschool, and the next semester for our university students.</p><p>I will plan on sharing more about how we spent our holidays, but a good part of that needs to be more private, so be sure that you're signed up to get our prayer letters, if you want to hear about that.</p><p><br /></p><p>For now, I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season and wish you all the best in 2024! Thank you for your love for us and for supporting us here.<br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-77129244761412911242023-10-01T17:21:00.004+03:002023-10-04T16:22:12.459+03:00The birthday puppy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRnXNIEgk0q0UQLV5CS0pwQ0gEfiAi1-VOwSD1W-m7loqzLP49xJNITnMJIheFuud4M8CKNX7PkdkZzMmFpMfg1ykgMj7LwQnqlE-CZw5Je8CFxUDWmmKUvX60Vn6neqjglXx12whmZ5i3FdzUNffwFeln99UnXpFoujkNqfeizg-uXVuHqZa/s1280/IMG_0231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRnXNIEgk0q0UQLV5CS0pwQ0gEfiAi1-VOwSD1W-m7loqzLP49xJNITnMJIheFuud4M8CKNX7PkdkZzMmFpMfg1ykgMj7LwQnqlE-CZw5Je8CFxUDWmmKUvX60Vn6neqjglXx12whmZ5i3FdzUNffwFeln99UnXpFoujkNqfeizg-uXVuHqZa/s320/IMG_0231.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Last week Asya turned 16. She has wanted to have a dog for a long time, and she knew that was the plan for this birthday. She had been saving her money, we had been researching what kind and where to get it, and we consulted with our neighbors about if they would be able to live with a dog back in our shared house in Kherson. But we were still able to surprise her. I found toy poodles online. Will started calling back and forth with the lady selling them, but Asya didn't know anything about what we were doing. This breeder had available an older puppy and one that was almost two months old. We knew Asya wanted a baby, so we choose the little one. A week before her birthday, the lady brought him into Ivano-Frankivsk on a long bus ride. We met her, talked for a while, and got the puppy. Asya was still asleep when we brought him back, so we just put him in bed with her. I think it was love at first sight.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>After that excitement earlier, her actual birthday was mostly a quiet day: church, coffee with her best friend, and a nice dinner. The puppy, Leo, is exactly what she wanted. We're all enjoying him.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Gv6lVkPmOMLM0FoHtw9N8BUs4GCX6Z5u2lbnXcdSLTuoSDVEIQyh22qKEhQnsQGttHN15xX24t8Ue7RqUG-VTXy4xValp3_LplVDTCuJDIf9OiY17-XgR1g2u5WMwjj8rHTgcMLz2j2Pvh-lCsNKFeEmn6XTr4ZTnXCJUyxcNk3sbVm3_Dm0/s1280/IMG_0230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Gv6lVkPmOMLM0FoHtw9N8BUs4GCX6Z5u2lbnXcdSLTuoSDVEIQyh22qKEhQnsQGttHN15xX24t8Ue7RqUG-VTXy4xValp3_LplVDTCuJDIf9OiY17-XgR1g2u5WMwjj8rHTgcMLz2j2Pvh-lCsNKFeEmn6XTr4ZTnXCJUyxcNk3sbVm3_Dm0/s320/IMG_0230.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> <p></p><p>This was her second wartime birthday. We were talking about how we celebrated last year, and she couldn't even remember. Looking back at photos, we remembered that Will grilled meat, and we ate in our yard. She said that's exactly what she would have chosen this year, too, if we had been at home. But this year she has her best friend nearby... and now a puppy.<br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-34282846957321293702023-09-02T13:31:00.002+03:002023-09-02T13:31:40.046+03:00День Знань 2023<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3tt__n_XhNBj5ubAqj9pHi3ViQmB7qyjobHF046jD5DjGXMwFA3Bw_E7HpI-T07euy6Wh4xUmozmkNleVyGrrCqcTRBDYo3ZGFmhRNrxOWYKK8F1mDuQoKmYJGVxeyTylN93ME6KFngvNS0KKqehM7GMo-G5tnsUVFCKj8YG6AIKXbDQQJ0Y/s1280/IMG_0091.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3tt__n_XhNBj5ubAqj9pHi3ViQmB7qyjobHF046jD5DjGXMwFA3Bw_E7HpI-T07euy6Wh4xUmozmkNleVyGrrCqcTRBDYo3ZGFmhRNrxOWYKK8F1mDuQoKmYJGVxeyTylN93ME6KFngvNS0KKqehM7GMo-G5tnsUVFCKj8YG6AIKXbDQQJ0Y/s320/IMG_0091.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>10th and 6th grades</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Yesterday was a strange first day of school. Strange because it was Friday, here (not Kherson), just after I got back from Lithuania, and strangest of all, because there are so few of us. But we did our traditional photos and started. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmn6GSH0LPsk0XaHYOmNkVhc3xlRG6DVHAbxXoDdml1bnBb6ujTxbJDGm1t_J563CseKSYeOLhoNzyXpj22QjNKiGyVuvsrfJ00Varbt-PSOveAp2Rj16oI6rmAqD3grzgctiJ-08pNIW-okDi6a9lVv4pDR5dut14IPkonYRJCGJa8-5OUrh/s1280/IMG_0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmn6GSH0LPsk0XaHYOmNkVhc3xlRG6DVHAbxXoDdml1bnBb6ujTxbJDGm1t_J563CseKSYeOLhoNzyXpj22QjNKiGyVuvsrfJ00Varbt-PSOveAp2Rj16oI6rmAqD3grzgctiJ-08pNIW-okDi6a9lVv4pDR5dut14IPkonYRJCGJa8-5OUrh/s320/IMG_0074.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPwGwvhbenYwJrithKMCMs-9g6w49xVZSM17orx9kQXUyGZ0GM83sni9RJkwjPxykMnanDuJ6y0A4wubEm2F1erSPXzM8fCCT-dlzFgsmytTZNothTq3GYxFvwSyeB2UfpK4H5kAUntNIjiKO4zQBgF16tObPyWAdiitw4y7ha44bccmrvEaD/s1280/IMG_0106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPwGwvhbenYwJrithKMCMs-9g6w49xVZSM17orx9kQXUyGZ0GM83sni9RJkwjPxykMnanDuJ6y0A4wubEm2F1erSPXzM8fCCT-dlzFgsmytTZNothTq3GYxFvwSyeB2UfpK4H5kAUntNIjiKO4zQBgF16tObPyWAdiitw4y7ha44bccmrvEaD/s320/IMG_0106.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Afterwards we went out to celebrate/cry with friends. (That was how my friends worded her invitation to me, and it was just right.)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXXeJTxKLryb7rd3GngBXGAcB-RZ_GiS797HkvKAx6RW9K5i1S5VGifYIHjjMJf1rvTKLfxUo9WButUy05cdyG5IoL775Jx6j6UotbIrwoqC8zEl6HPwAXBZIcYr181eKoC_ByubFeEl_ZKDOkwxZP5uSBn9gTn2G_cj6vMUp-kWJrKQKu4S7/s1280/3433945C-9A67-4F4A-BA5F-CF88D673ED94.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXXeJTxKLryb7rd3GngBXGAcB-RZ_GiS797HkvKAx6RW9K5i1S5VGifYIHjjMJf1rvTKLfxUo9WButUy05cdyG5IoL775Jx6j6UotbIrwoqC8zEl6HPwAXBZIcYr181eKoC_ByubFeEl_ZKDOkwxZP5uSBn9gTn2G_cj6vMUp-kWJrKQKu4S7/s320/3433945C-9A67-4F4A-BA5F-CF88D673ED94.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQZe30aAjtupIlWbH_ORqlsTu-mxTHvNO2VnBwpQFn7qE_5Hz7sQEW0FEsiRqBdp2HrUws1ZjyTa5BXM7DCfeomjuIgAl1uHsnkx2e-CNRs_YtBaKEwzEdr2Dv3Rk-0YqtyvuOfHsCYRYJlvaVKu90BVaws8FDKUzVl1Fxv5hy7rVp-13o4Ly/s1280/F68AD4B0-2592-461C-A83A-39872F97BB66.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQZe30aAjtupIlWbH_ORqlsTu-mxTHvNO2VnBwpQFn7qE_5Hz7sQEW0FEsiRqBdp2HrUws1ZjyTa5BXM7DCfeomjuIgAl1uHsnkx2e-CNRs_YtBaKEwzEdr2Dv3Rk-0YqtyvuOfHsCYRYJlvaVKu90BVaws8FDKUzVl1Fxv5hy7rVp-13o4Ly/s320/F68AD4B0-2592-461C-A83A-39872F97BB66.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>And while we were starting here, the older two were finishing their first week of university in Lithuania.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLS44veVqSSIQn3Vz0A7z3oRpX17TMYXwrJWzKHJtZIrYqtUAeSP449o5oRK5t6oa-G5p_YjcaOZ4d77rn9W84VwM-jT8ye8foB9mU4NxM1OKDddkoNqhUv96IYwffQh5hXoU7Uqy-vTPdnLXB8JohnM4a9UP0WpBHh888liaJlVIf6MKb13G/s4032/IMG_0040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLS44veVqSSIQn3Vz0A7z3oRpX17TMYXwrJWzKHJtZIrYqtUAeSP449o5oRK5t6oa-G5p_YjcaOZ4d77rn9W84VwM-jT8ye8foB9mU4NxM1OKDddkoNqhUv96IYwffQh5hXoU7Uqy-vTPdnLXB8JohnM4a9UP0WpBHh888liaJlVIf6MKb13G/s320/IMG_0040.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I have done lots of hard things in my life, but leaving them was the hardest.</p><p>Here's to a good 2023-24 school year for all! And victory!<br /></p><p></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-43850152540725860762023-08-21T17:59:00.000+03:002023-08-21T17:59:08.076+03:00Next steps<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyE_j6n5qdsIBeTXxchOtKpTrMlpdWD9-tbJCgq7j1QGSIdnmN35EIVxQsdZrQRWXuAeBD7Jnmzk6EcNuJK-GFUnyIrtSwG7JUq62IKZWkEtjf2WlLZRW0z9GDryGi-YELPdDbVCLr79u7qAGFWCn_XjdbwN-QzDlRQXzx137CqCCWi_AfiTQ/s4032/0E445076-0D9A-4269-94F9-FEB036040798.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyE_j6n5qdsIBeTXxchOtKpTrMlpdWD9-tbJCgq7j1QGSIdnmN35EIVxQsdZrQRWXuAeBD7Jnmzk6EcNuJK-GFUnyIrtSwG7JUq62IKZWkEtjf2WlLZRW0z9GDryGi-YELPdDbVCLr79u7qAGFWCn_XjdbwN-QzDlRQXzx137CqCCWi_AfiTQ/s320/0E445076-0D9A-4269-94F9-FEB036040798.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></p>I’ll probably write more about camp soon. It was just too wonderful to move on from without saying more. But for now, here’s a quick rundown of what’s next:</span><p></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Jaan and Raia have to be at LCC on August 23. For Raia we have a reservation on a van going from Lviv to Klaipeda August 22-23. Jaan has a more complicated trip. He left last night, and he’s still on the road now. He needs to go to Warsaw and get his lost luggage from last month, then find a bus on to Vilnius, then bus or train or something from Vilnius to Klaipeda. Yana is going with him, and he’s trying to find a place for her to live and work near LCC. Jaan and Raia will move into their dorms on the 23rd, have a few days of orientation, and then classes start on August 28.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Back here in Ukraine Asya is going to a youth camp in the mountains, August 24-28. She wasn’t planning on it, because of the expense and the fact that her best friend isn’t going. However someone offered to pay for her to go, and she decided that she could do it without Sonya.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We also need to find a smaller, cheaper apartment here in Ivano-Frankivsk and move. I had really hoped to be able to go home, but Will still isn’t ready. The rental market here is still pretty bad, but not as insane as it was when we first arrived. Hopefully we can find something that still has room for for our Bible study group to meet, but isn’t so big and expensive as where we are now.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">And then, of course, homeschooling and online music school starts with the beginning of September.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Please keep all of this in your prayers for us.</div>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-23391245626140961242023-08-14T12:56:00.002+03:002023-08-14T12:57:41.365+03:00Camp videos of happy days<p>We are back from an amazing trip to camp and a little time at home. As one of the teens who traveled with us said, now we go home like guests and then leave home like... I don't know what. Also like guests? It's very hard and confusing emotionally. But our time there was wonderful.</p><p>We had a great camp photographer, and I'm going to post all the little videos she made. Maybe later as I have time to go through her photos and find our kids in them, I can put some still photos up, too. Enjoy!<br /></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l2FMuzVoR6k" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/12wbNWgCRcc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MJ-ouBFm2k4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XIHD9APkFvY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
On Sunday morning after camp, they showed one of these videos to the church and asked if one of the kids wanted to come up and pray to thank God for the week. Our Bogdan went right up and prayed. I know he expressed the thanks of many others, too. One little boy had said that it was like a week in Narnia, a complete escape from the war. That's exactly what it was for all of us.<br />Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-88259230528467050372023-07-31T11:48:00.028+03:002023-07-31T11:48:00.141+03:00Overcoming<p><i>(I am scheduling this to post on our first day of camp in Kherson, where Raia will be back in her element, working with kids and her friends at the church she loves. Please pray for us.) </i></p><p>Jeremiah 1:19
“They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. </p><p>HomeLife Academy gave Raia their Overcomer Award for this year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFKD2x8TAWTu08Wg9NH5kN9ouZ25o95HrR3YNUIWtta2fOFGEaKaEUlgquzNYssPY2Gb7TDIA3dU-B3XUj34WkD6L6q1Ld02qLGU2jabiTliVCyeIZQIm6Vys7sQNEUao3Q_sDon9ks0LV07nDgqVL1LKAY4swTCN8ehDOS-AE46kHP5tnlLO/s3050/HLA%202023%20Yearbook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3050" data-original-width="2350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFKD2x8TAWTu08Wg9NH5kN9ouZ25o95HrR3YNUIWtta2fOFGEaKaEUlgquzNYssPY2Gb7TDIA3dU-B3XUj34WkD6L6q1Ld02qLGU2jabiTliVCyeIZQIm6Vys7sQNEUao3Q_sDon9ks0LV07nDgqVL1LKAY4swTCN8ehDOS-AE46kHP5tnlLO/s320/HLA%202023%20Yearbook.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>Here's a link to full year book:
https://www.flipsnack.com/76D6C988B7A/hla-2023-yearbook.html <p></p><p>I just took the one page about her to share here.</p><p> </p><p>She has just officially graduated, and I am struck again but how much the word Overcomer fits her and what she has done in the past year. She has overcome </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Fitting 11th and 12th grades into one year </li><li>While living, thriving, helping others under occupation and in an active war zone </li><li>During unexpected sudden evacuation </li><li>Through a dark winter winter without electricity </li><li>Far from her very closest friends </li><li>When her dreams of a certain university became very distant because Lithuania didn’t accept the high school diploma she was working so hard for </li><li>Not taking the SAT when planned with her tutor and then taking it later when she was stressed and not feeling ready </li><li>Passing the GED, which she never planned on taking </li><li>Retaking parts of the GED to raise her passing scores even higher.... </li></ul><p> <br />She still has more to conquer, including right now figuring out applying for residency in two countries almost simultaneously, not to mention starting the whole new adventure of university. Thank you to everyone who has carried her and the rest of our family in your prayers and support all these years. Please keep praying! </p><p>If we were in normal times, we would celebrate her graduation with our family and local friends. Even that isn’t really possible right now. If anyone here wants to congratulate her, send words of encouragement, or even little gifts, her email address for both notes and PayPal is raia.xansaker@gmail.com.
Again, thank you! </p><p> </p><p>I’ll close with these words of Jesus in John 16:22. Glory to the One who is the real Overcomer: </p><p>“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”</p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-81256635675176064972023-07-20T16:05:00.000+03:002023-07-20T16:05:34.439+03:00Good news<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBsiiyT3eBNaVPKUEBJ2aqenQoru9lJoqhYDB9FyTkAm-gIig85qAtCkIaTYg7lxzp1vKPK2g3Gzqrd27pDbfnxKmi0TDo4ROddmgh2fI0VNWOe3QwKOZJNf3VeBJ4PI6rTx2GwRG4Q1C2A1_lnlbUPeaHoPi94_C99e6tLc9jlTXzyyXV_CU/s1280/62B4698C-D8C4-45FD-9161-CC1C51209FDE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBsiiyT3eBNaVPKUEBJ2aqenQoru9lJoqhYDB9FyTkAm-gIig85qAtCkIaTYg7lxzp1vKPK2g3Gzqrd27pDbfnxKmi0TDo4ROddmgh2fI0VNWOe3QwKOZJNf3VeBJ4PI6rTx2GwRG4Q1C2A1_lnlbUPeaHoPi94_C99e6tLc9jlTXzyyXV_CU/s320/62B4698C-D8C4-45FD-9161-CC1C51209FDE.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Jaan’s here! With Yana! It’s so good to have him back.<div><br /><div>Raia got her answer from LCC: she’s in! We’re thrilled.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That said, we’re still drowning. The war goes on. Jaan arrived without luggage and is caught up in the craziness of modern airline “service,” when he really has so much else to work on, too. Raia’s acceptance comes with some nuances. The logistics of everything for all of us are just too much. I can’t even explain. Stress levels are still very high. Please keep praying.</div><div><br /></div><div>And praise God for good news.</div>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-58291625302734652502023-07-14T08:36:00.003+03:002023-07-14T10:54:12.869+03:00They’re back<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD95smbyraoPZPlgV6rX0pwfTL8cReSep2rOxdvrvPk-GMWEcuImZ0Tg2VD3WRqGmGW8ofp8U-4DTugupx5IxdjGISRHGt2Z0Wb_Ewo-HtuF4lBldLLlovfGIoKWVQQ1SuiCDBS2P6wK-whN388m2_UVfy5DTkd3W4bpj5t2h5AbmJeWE35N-z/s1280/5BB73FB5-D272-4B21-A4AF-2D5093BEDC27.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD95smbyraoPZPlgV6rX0pwfTL8cReSep2rOxdvrvPk-GMWEcuImZ0Tg2VD3WRqGmGW8ofp8U-4DTugupx5IxdjGISRHGt2Z0Wb_Ewo-HtuF4lBldLLlovfGIoKWVQQ1SuiCDBS2P6wK-whN388m2_UVfy5DTkd3W4bpj5t2h5AbmJeWE35N-z/s320/5BB73FB5-D272-4B21-A4AF-2D5093BEDC27.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Will and Raia are back, sleeping after a very long night on a bus. They didn't get the visa that Raia needs. Because of where she was born, the consulate couldn't just hand her a visa, like they were doing for everyone else. Her application could take up to 30 days to be processed through Kyiv. Then she can go back to Poland and get it. Of course, this really complicates everything, both logistically and--to be very honest--emotionally. Again, please keep praying....<br /></p><p></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-49204045969590975902023-07-12T16:20:00.002+03:002023-07-21T08:44:24.066+03:00Now this<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzVuLBb5c2_6cUFbJ8t-PqNmJhnutK7klGUEP2Cxw02AIHNMCyeIyD2EtRxz_bCJzggQUPRmu3yjJjvfrmO6U8xmixrsTQzc_fbsZ1RetS-Wl16FX3MOMJW-PdQD7zNrMH8h4QPGWxaagvTlOBGg1sRtc71e6F5oHGfg0KCtkoziEcy9UwdGr/s1280/E50AC118-3FB3-47E0-B915-79B431C7C23C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzVuLBb5c2_6cUFbJ8t-PqNmJhnutK7klGUEP2Cxw02AIHNMCyeIyD2EtRxz_bCJzggQUPRmu3yjJjvfrmO6U8xmixrsTQzc_fbsZ1RetS-Wl16FX3MOMJW-PdQD7zNrMH8h4QPGWxaagvTlOBGg1sRtc71e6F5oHGfg0KCtkoziEcy9UwdGr/s320/E50AC118-3FB3-47E0-B915-79B431C7C23C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Last night Bogdan fell out of a cherry tree. He fell hard, and I thought his arm might be broken, but it was late, and he was doing okay. So, we gave him ibuprofen, iced his arm, and put him to bed. Asya was wonderful; she's really calm in medical situations. This morning it was still hurting. We tried to call a taxi, but the app I like was all busy, so the three of us walked to the children's hospital. I was so impressed with them! There were hardly any lines, and they were so incredibly kind. Bogdan's wrist is fractured, but there's nothing complicated. He has a cast for 2.5 weeks, and that's all.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMP-m7HOAQ2ThjmMMpI7xVdHrcbmCwEwFgoIfDMbjHMBRDLyCtOQh3B-WDuMkZvoemqHUomcB_cDqQeYdFsFLgovQcocVDKQoP4Vc0OnBtP44MwqbfisMS1eO_GPuxygokIXkc9NGfu7FGnEBTnXhKUUdZ23z2C7wcQ5PHCGfK1caPlouFd0Ov/s3264/ADAB438B-13DD-4CA4-B7DC-9A1BBC1390CF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMP-m7HOAQ2ThjmMMpI7xVdHrcbmCwEwFgoIfDMbjHMBRDLyCtOQh3B-WDuMkZvoemqHUomcB_cDqQeYdFsFLgovQcocVDKQoP4Vc0OnBtP44MwqbfisMS1eO_GPuxygokIXkc9NGfu7FGnEBTnXhKUUdZ23z2C7wcQ5PHCGfK1caPlouFd0Ov/s320/ADAB438B-13DD-4CA4-B7DC-9A1BBC1390CF.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Afterwards Bogdan decided that we needed "Kherson lemonade" to recover, so we walked across town in the other direction to go to a coffee shop from Kherson. Asya and Bogdan had that special treat, and I had cold coffee. Then we came back to the apartment.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfljvyLo1fDJJlqxN6wTW_0PlHld8Lz2hxwmxsuIuw8bXjSn43zA6hfRSwhVR86Gdrkncaixg5mlfXIQv74eLoqokmlCiPxP_7_APuOQZkGtPGokD7q6XSp0TeuOOolCoz2CgbY9CBlpmgycs3vRnZZa9In0p1RzvlNewBwAdVLDV7Wir73vjI/s3264/48407663-302F-4C04-8AD2-D708A67EAFFC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfljvyLo1fDJJlqxN6wTW_0PlHld8Lz2hxwmxsuIuw8bXjSn43zA6hfRSwhVR86Gdrkncaixg5mlfXIQv74eLoqokmlCiPxP_7_APuOQZkGtPGokD7q6XSp0TeuOOolCoz2CgbY9CBlpmgycs3vRnZZa9In0p1RzvlNewBwAdVLDV7Wir73vjI/s320/48407663-302F-4C04-8AD2-D708A67EAFFC.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">While all of this has been going on, Will and Raia had their appointment in Poland. As we kind of expected, they couldn't get everything sorted out right away and were told to come back after lunch. They've been running around, and as far as I know, they're back at the consulate now. Please keep praying for them.<br /></p></div></div>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-89308115845226532202023-07-10T17:10:00.000+03:002023-07-10T17:10:42.071+03:00Please keep praying<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuHxrKgy6YkIEb4d0waOF2yRQlg1gq93fxOaS-JUBcneMSbRJdpzV5mnmIYrNSZaCRQF8JDOLvnOq81w3K__xHl5CaIkI29oJ9UK53TEDmTHiPpSUvvZEKuga9O6GdY-r7fL5gLWjKdiJRMQsO900a9B_sfXr1SK5MbevRVcPHMBgZQY1SQLW/s1280/IMG_8655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuHxrKgy6YkIEb4d0waOF2yRQlg1gq93fxOaS-JUBcneMSbRJdpzV5mnmIYrNSZaCRQF8JDOLvnOq81w3K__xHl5CaIkI29oJ9UK53TEDmTHiPpSUvvZEKuga9O6GdY-r7fL5gLWjKdiJRMQsO900a9B_sfXr1SK5MbevRVcPHMBgZQY1SQLW/s320/IMG_8655.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Raia did get her her math and science scores higher. Now her science is up to what Lithuania requires, but her math is still a little low. We're at the point where if LCC can average her scores across all four subjects, she's in, but if they can't accept an average, then there's really nothing else we can do now. Please keep praying. Pray that we'll get a positive answer and soon!<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliItCAYGt-xQpr6jyx06-De_Q-etyky7LYyjPMn_7k22uaZdYlxd7ogrujtAIo4rDwE0zqxV4xPxJqdoStCO1VuQM5JbC4aEhkrJYghNrPHreyPQxGgkpR7cbLkfwdXYxxPsHPwA9pgtAGUmKCoCr9ZNhL6W1dvcwRR4hNpeSiIWbDf7rWurT/s3264/IMG_8644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliItCAYGt-xQpr6jyx06-De_Q-etyky7LYyjPMn_7k22uaZdYlxd7ogrujtAIo4rDwE0zqxV4xPxJqdoStCO1VuQM5JbC4aEhkrJYghNrPHreyPQxGgkpR7cbLkfwdXYxxPsHPwA9pgtAGUmKCoCr9ZNhL6W1dvcwRR4hNpeSiIWbDf7rWurT/s320/IMG_8644.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Already she has to move on to her next step. <a href="http://fylliska.blogspot.com/2023/05/residency-for-raia.html">The papers we needed</a> for her Ukraine visa application--the first part of applying for residency--came through from the Kherson war administration. Tomorrow she and Will are going to "celebrate" his birthday by sitting all day in a bus to Poland. They have an appointment to apply for her visa on Wednesday, and if all goes really well, they could be headed back Thursday-Friday. We haven't even gotten as far as buying return tickets yet, though, because we don't know how long this will take.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-40283327232396879022023-07-06T10:01:00.000+03:002023-07-06T10:01:14.963+03:00A call to prayer<p>Tomorrow Raia will be retaking math and science exams to try to raise her scores on them. Please pray for her! Pray that she can sleep on the train to Kyiv tonight and do really well tomorrow. Thank you.<br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-23933323394497407932023-06-13T09:36:00.001+03:002023-06-13T09:36:27.749+03:00The dam<p>It's been a week since <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/saving-lives-from-russias-flood-inside-inundated-shelled-kherson/">Russia blew up the dam at Kakhovka</a>. The Bible study we host here is made up of mostly of people from Kherson, and last week's study was a somber evening as we met and were sad together. Even though our family hasn't felt the physical effects of the disaster, we've been so sad. This is a new low place in a long run of awfulness.<br /></p><p>Our house and our church in Kherson are high and dry, but the dacha that we bought just before the war isn't. <a href="https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1666359291035484161">This video</a> is probably somewhere over in that area. And before Kherson we lived for 5 years on the bank of the beautiful Kakhovka Reservoir, which is drying up now (<a href="https://www.unian.ua/ecology/boloto-zamist-vodoshovishcha-u-merezhi-pokazali-yak-zniklo-kahovske-more-video-12289125.html">before and after</a>). It feels like we know two sides of this tragedy ourselves. There's yet another side that's even worse. On the other side of the Dnepr River, where the Russians are and were the flooding has been worst, people are suffering even more. Please keep praying for Ukraine and especially for Kherson region!</p><p>Here's an old photo of happier days, <a href="http://fylliska.blogspot.com/2008/07/at-beach.html">July 8, 2008</a>, little Jaan floating in the "Kakhovka Sea":</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmXfG2tnGuQf3jDdpw7EOe0Gv2RKD9VBSJAzG1VviQv7jgaCUQ67rqpOk3x6mVt5LWV26BoRP9GS33WxwVI6erUO_vtdV7FpbYzas7F0b87c3EPSk2vg7zULCpt0U3u4eiZABT_QarIIMItKbyKWSmLqWeP7WZ322V5xoyYZh3q5I6JN4jQ/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmXfG2tnGuQf3jDdpw7EOe0Gv2RKD9VBSJAzG1VviQv7jgaCUQ67rqpOk3x6mVt5LWV26BoRP9GS33WxwVI6erUO_vtdV7FpbYzas7F0b87c3EPSk2vg7zULCpt0U3u4eiZABT_QarIIMItKbyKWSmLqWeP7WZ322V5xoyYZh3q5I6JN4jQ/s320/IMG_3435.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There are more old photos <a href="http://fylliska.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-birthday.html">here</a>, too, and everywhere else in our family memories. That beautiful "sea," the other shore was almost too far away to see.<br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-32718212772958457442023-06-02T10:42:00.030+03:002023-06-02T10:42:00.132+03:00Last Bell<p>We're at the end of the school year! Kind of. The school year in this part of the world and in our family has always been pretty much the first day of September to the last day of May. Everything is different lately, but still it's Last Bell now. We're celebrating with a walk to the river and a fancy meal.<br /></p><p>And, yes, Bogdan is finished. He's done well with 5th grade through all kinds of chaos. His online music lessons will continue throughout June; he has to make up for long gaps when he didn't have access to lessons and/or an instrument. He's loved art here in Ivano-Frankivsk: earning awards, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vezha.org/posts/pfbid0RvmtUBXu2yq6eWU7NADPm8KPXFizJ5traAyKMSdwRY1M46duKExfAC7kr5wEDVTLl?__cft__[0]=AZW7Q6OYsonU_uV5HHFMfEPF_azolunOj_Wb_K5pRmooHJGQvOhcHSvXWg9IP_CRFTelIxx_tr7Xz3T1b-EjdDFrHqiqP_mt-fGZxF0FjSRtbhbMMIZ3gKd-xD_qz9jpntMhcRZKJkDhTLYKK8z92y00wiL_CPciYwzJ1o3OUDh1y8LE1sRicYGhlbL2wF5jxMw2YMQNJZvGB3s9meUnsz7O&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-y-R">showing up on the news</a>, and having his work exhibited in an actual museum! I don't know if art classes will continue in summer months?</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCblTaHPEVJxVlrlRLO3F2WdRQXRxlTTBlh8tj7FTgMXFfnV_7BKrnPchzRtlvkZC3cvUYggtDsj-noGH__m05GRwjsYj2QB4b2CbtpI-geTA8XyZ8AUkjJiVM4DgCzbKbRSErJ-Q1xlWCYinWEiJWQcBZBEY2JWOkWn01e5rEFToGj_Ec-g/s3264/IMG_8166.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCblTaHPEVJxVlrlRLO3F2WdRQXRxlTTBlh8tj7FTgMXFfnV_7BKrnPchzRtlvkZC3cvUYggtDsj-noGH__m05GRwjsYj2QB4b2CbtpI-geTA8XyZ8AUkjJiVM4DgCzbKbRSErJ-Q1xlWCYinWEiJWQcBZBEY2JWOkWn01e5rEFToGj_Ec-g/s320/IMG_8166.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>With his teacher and his work at the museum</b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Asya has also done really well in her 9th grade. She kept up with her music, when no one else could. Sometimes she and her teacher were on Zoom from their phones, when one or the other of them was actually traveling from one place to another, or when explosions or air raid sirens were sounding in the background. Asya has also been in a small Zoom group of AmblesideOnline kids around the world, and that was wonderful for both her and me. (I think our group started a fad; it looks like there are going to be a bunch of similar Zoom groups next year.) Asya's not quite done yet, because in high school we count a full school year by days, and she has some more to do before she gets to the end.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7YKvdx54agl0aKhi-sgMSCe9mNx0mXDuG1v0tuU4rQuvpe-AzwxbGIO1kYRs7M1JKsf4U5T08QxCcN3OAdGgcBWTmaJTfeydZl0DXgHOpOaYNiiq_VVXuYPqVINFX06at6bZMUx0NugG0x2DXQM2YMin3R5-IB0OEUzPuj4GSEMloGmdbw/s3264/IMG_7901.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7YKvdx54agl0aKhi-sgMSCe9mNx0mXDuG1v0tuU4rQuvpe-AzwxbGIO1kYRs7M1JKsf4U5T08QxCcN3OAdGgcBWTmaJTfeydZl0DXgHOpOaYNiiq_VVXuYPqVINFX06at6bZMUx0NugG0x2DXQM2YMin3R5-IB0OEUzPuj4GSEMloGmdbw/s320/IMG_7901.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Zoom group in April</b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Raia won the Overcomer Award from HomeLife Academy, the American school she's enrolled in. She definitely deserves it. This whole year has been about overcoming war, occupation, displacement, distance from her friends, hurdles to finishing high school and getting into college, and so much more. Raia also has more days and more hard work ahead of her before she finishes 11/12th grade and graduates, but she's doing a great job and finishing well. (And you saw a photo of her and Jaan in my last post, so it's fair that I'm not adding one here.) </p><p>I'm always so thankful for our AmblesideOnline family. Finding AO at the beginning of homeschooling and being involved there is honestly one of the biggest blessings in my life. This year especially we've needed that continuity and support, and it's been there for us constantly. </p><p> One more year of homeschooling is (almost) done!<br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-43597247754333050672023-05-31T10:39:00.002+03:002023-05-31T11:21:18.992+03:00College<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUAP0XtI6k1jVcjPWcn9ymMAuh_j3g1IA7w14m5qHaONXCUaKb9JyjDPSfZJznd4AQOfUfT95G_i0SsFiEehTC9HTaJeP6YsSf6ovRlpCu6BvdnfIpcGAPNwv5WrW8292xqC7z-LKA69uBxh7mjXGFIiZ5wcJTd9JSqHmwLFrMdL04Q8rjA/s3264/IMG_7328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUAP0XtI6k1jVcjPWcn9ymMAuh_j3g1IA7w14m5qHaONXCUaKb9JyjDPSfZJznd4AQOfUfT95G_i0SsFiEehTC9HTaJeP6YsSf6ovRlpCu6BvdnfIpcGAPNwv5WrW8292xqC7z-LKA69uBxh7mjXGFIiZ5wcJTd9JSqHmwLFrMdL04Q8rjA/s320/IMG_7328.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Raia has been planning to go to <a href="https://lcc.lt/">LCC</a> since her friend started studying there four years ago. Along the way, Jaan decided that he would, too. Then Jaan and Raia worked it all out so that she would finish both 11th and 12th grade this year, and he would use this year as a gap year. That way they could go together, even though they're actually two years apart in age and school. War complicated their plans, but Raia is finishing well, and Jaan is working in Florida to make money during the second half of this gap year of his.<br /></p><p>We have been wanting to visit LCC, and when they had "University Days" at the end of January, we finally got to go. That was two days for prospective students to go on a campus tour, attend classes, and find out about studying there. Jaan, Raia, and I traveled for two days through Poland and London to get to Lithuania, spent two days there, and then made the long trek back. We really enjoyed our visit.</p><p>Right after that, they started the application process. It has been much more difficult and complicated than we would have expected. Now I remember that when our friends--another international family in Kherson--were going through college applications with their two oldest, it seemed very overwhelming. Now I understand. I really don't know if it's usually like this, but pulling together everything to get into college has been a marathon for all of us. We're almost to the end... maybe. Jaan and Raia are conditionally accepted at LCC! Please pray that they can meet that final condition, one more big test for them to take.</p><p>Assuming we can get through this next hurdle (and Lithuanian residency and finances), Raia will study English and Jaan Contemporary Communications. I think they'll both get some Theology, too; LCC doesn't call it a minor, but that's basically what it is. </p><p>Anyway, please pray for us, as we work so hard to get to the next step now.<br /></p><p></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-24307903478369972262023-05-17T10:44:00.003+03:002023-05-17T10:44:40.629+03:00Residency for Raia<p>While we've been here in Ivano-Frankivsk, we've had a lot of details to work on, things we couldn't do anything about under occupation. One of those is getting residency for Raia. She'll turn 18 in less than a month. We had kind of decided that we wouldn't do anything about Ukrainian documents for her, since she's planning to be in Lithuania at college most of the time soon. She could legally be in Ukraine with her passport 90 days at a time, and that seemed like enough. But, really, it would be better for her to have residency, so we're slowly moving forward with that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MCqIDRoMccHfE92tMYR-EnZpWvNf3qWq2K7GP2KtnMs3JDAzEb6rSPx2kWvIxwQHyvYhHK1CPyAKqDi9m02ApL4wyKdlfu0O6ASs2dOhWo1WHoatsrfjkapWx4fsV31pm1DStXNGSpmWS8VWoDiWkHNlIjFleWpqw38t7JgFxl_DOjf_qQ/s3264/793521D9-6388-460B-8093-E1F2E214426F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MCqIDRoMccHfE92tMYR-EnZpWvNf3qWq2K7GP2KtnMs3JDAzEb6rSPx2kWvIxwQHyvYhHK1CPyAKqDi9m02ApL4wyKdlfu0O6ASs2dOhWo1WHoatsrfjkapWx4fsV31pm1DStXNGSpmWS8VWoDiWkHNlIjFleWpqw38t7JgFxl_DOjf_qQ/s320/793521D9-6388-460B-8093-E1F2E214426F.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>When we did this for Jaan, I wrote <a href="https://fylliska.blogspot.com/2021/08/residency-process.html">a quick summary of the process</a>. That was back when everything was simple. Now, that first step is very daunting. The first document needed--there could be quite a few subpoints under that first point--is a request from the inviting organization to the local religion and culture office for them to approve the invitation of a foreign citizen. Okay. But there's no religion and culture office in Kherson now. There's also no migration service or passport office, and everyone we used to work with on all this is gone. Can the Kherson war administration do approvals? Will went around to offices here yesterday (and several other times in the past few weeks), and honestly, no one really knows what to do. We have some leads, and we'll keep looking. Please pray for us.<br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-44923829553938388952023-05-14T12:32:00.006+03:002023-05-14T12:32:59.549+03:00Joy seeping through<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg4slqui_3C2k7oOQ2z-goZ0OMypE8TT4xDM9MKwXlxU3SRnz5hq1sgGl9zWhF2YRlGpxrQJl0grJ0dhgadq6pAg2u6-6dMtKYRnuYvrCVfRSjLKCO4A8sMwEKxaBD72hJ1rg6cJ6_4So2r1JNsIxj0ULvByRSIbdPGGlnIYkHAPC2702XQ/s3264/IMG_8113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg4slqui_3C2k7oOQ2z-goZ0OMypE8TT4xDM9MKwXlxU3SRnz5hq1sgGl9zWhF2YRlGpxrQJl0grJ0dhgadq6pAg2u6-6dMtKYRnuYvrCVfRSjLKCO4A8sMwEKxaBD72hJ1rg6cJ6_4So2r1JNsIxj0ULvByRSIbdPGGlnIYkHAPC2702XQ/s320/IMG_8113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />I recently started rereading one of my favorite books: <i>Champagne for the Soul</i>. It’s one I really clung to when I had cancer, and I’ve read it several other times. Now my paper copy is at home in Kherson, but OpenLibrary comes to the rescue again. I read a little each day. Here’s just one sentence from a few days ago: </p><p>“Sometimes joy is what seeps through the cracks when our hearts are breaking." </p><p>Joy was my main feeling all through the time of occupation. Yes, it was often mixed with fear. Yes, there was a lot that was terribly hard, but I had peace and joy inside.
Since we’ve left home, it’s been different. Everything is dark. There’s nothing I have to <i>do</i> now, and I’ve just been sad. But my book is reminding me that joy can mix with sadness, and maybe the joy is actually leaking through the broken places.</p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-2883176766658489192023-05-12T10:23:00.039+03:002023-05-12T10:23:00.171+03:00Bogdan's 12th birthday<p>Yes, his birthday was a long time ago, but before spring ends, I should write about our spring birthday. (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02bSNtSw8ejbqcquR4o3pYT3xrMeFhDTiSMEwcRgwPs36oece58KiQDkwk54uQB3r3l&id=100001737379500&__cft__[0]=AZWV_gdn5Yq5CCnCcJwCMVLjzYoue9ccQDCVpIE2Zjx-eSXNCXZtljaGKaQGk-QvB4nILR3INQHO6NwXoaZ1Q7p4WQ7kWuRao1xwnuD8iBxJxMwLzYTQYfrI9q4hv0QfMe4&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R">Will also wrote about it</a> in a much more timely fashion.) Exactly two months ago, Bogdan turned 12. Raia and her friend and I arrived back from Kyiv that morning, so we didn't have much time to prepare anything. Will had bought a cake, though, and made sure that there were presents. Bogdan was also very excited by the presents that Raia and Dasha had chosen in Kyiv for him:<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmSMRS7C6PGcgDA6knLHU06gxPyngSz3F7m0wS88sXVMsLsQYDLUem_bHzorm3gSaIhWsd8XQAfzgqzUafTI3CQzJ4iXUZGp287et42X9jjG2hQiEEheSDWsQzY5waSgcl-WnELh5Yi3pKU2w28Xat_7TBGOHhcjTDbheOfql-WElJU3huQ/s3264/IMG_7581.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmSMRS7C6PGcgDA6knLHU06gxPyngSz3F7m0wS88sXVMsLsQYDLUem_bHzorm3gSaIhWsd8XQAfzgqzUafTI3CQzJ4iXUZGp287et42X9jjG2hQiEEheSDWsQzY5waSgcl-WnELh5Yi3pKU2w28Xat_7TBGOHhcjTDbheOfql-WElJU3huQ/s320/IMG_7581.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Polished rocks!</span></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Bogdan took his cake to Sunday school, and shared it there. Then his friends came back with him afterwards and played on the school field near us. That was what he had really been looking forward to, and he loved it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX71EqRPIDZ7UPUcPXb8PYLw-HcJFiScOqT354GxizpHi4V0tODC4Qub6G3q2HW3CsQnmLgWMAu_IMUrOKKViGlgAD11en0WBd16Ox0CWch87WmFtRdw-5Ul6cLRYUuW0VRL78oM2YNADWlp51rXWPo143J2M35SscT7jxGW40Kdkyn8xiDQ/s3264/IMG_7583.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX71EqRPIDZ7UPUcPXb8PYLw-HcJFiScOqT354GxizpHi4V0tODC4Qub6G3q2HW3CsQnmLgWMAu_IMUrOKKViGlgAD11en0WBd16Ox0CWch87WmFtRdw-5Ul6cLRYUuW0VRL78oM2YNADWlp51rXWPo143J2M35SscT7jxGW40Kdkyn8xiDQ/s320/IMG_7583.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>We went out to dinner at a pizza place he had chosen:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn6K5eB5dBPitc1dppAKlez-otQf8izdyhhPKi50s_2thLO26upW9S09rfqso4pXyq_Oi09C_3K6vrBETZrgR850UslfdWRrPxRgmYi25DT_4MahalkvU_m4WvnjubfBxETy-8gq9caGAT9kLDryL-V7mSAWnywWT_igPd0QrbTVrx6v2MA/s3264/IMG_7594.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn6K5eB5dBPitc1dppAKlez-otQf8izdyhhPKi50s_2thLO26upW9S09rfqso4pXyq_Oi09C_3K6vrBETZrgR850UslfdWRrPxRgmYi25DT_4MahalkvU_m4WvnjubfBxETy-8gq9caGAT9kLDryL-V7mSAWnywWT_igPd0QrbTVrx6v2MA/s320/IMG_7594.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KxhMaqNzJRItjSpayvj1YYDGZq5JFgSgWRRG4RCrkuO0e8MgCo3TKUyY1p9bgFwKG5oJUgwDWNs1sU-0lW6TDeou9H3585TZuYgw-MwXgaqgSq6mPaJhgCCIjNBdJxZgfC5w0DqDpAhJ9clC3oPr1qh1zCyXSi2cdQ-__xVIz7eXFIbu8Q/s3264/IMG_7597.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KxhMaqNzJRItjSpayvj1YYDGZq5JFgSgWRRG4RCrkuO0e8MgCo3TKUyY1p9bgFwKG5oJUgwDWNs1sU-0lW6TDeou9H3585TZuYgw-MwXgaqgSq6mPaJhgCCIjNBdJxZgfC5w0DqDpAhJ9clC3oPr1qh1zCyXSi2cdQ-__xVIz7eXFIbu8Q/s320/IMG_7597.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdpNlA3_Il7LOBYbrzGJGmxWbRkrxKmIHyhP-kVj-ohckOr29q3PRvh314wDnbv6rv2ba_cb9OKRytx__BkwLxk4I8hEy807wiaoCCvth2mK-vAaoHLLojy69xHXe0Srxip1GsyBcQ_daitwPmpqNn9V5-vTo9tR84DpvlJBHaW8EBfTgRA/s3264/IMG_7599.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdpNlA3_Il7LOBYbrzGJGmxWbRkrxKmIHyhP-kVj-ohckOr29q3PRvh314wDnbv6rv2ba_cb9OKRytx__BkwLxk4I8hEy807wiaoCCvth2mK-vAaoHLLojy69xHXe0Srxip1GsyBcQ_daitwPmpqNn9V5-vTo9tR84DpvlJBHaW8EBfTgRA/s320/IMG_7599.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>One of the presents was a robot kit from Jaan:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wk0-EbPWBwFDf0uAHNATrcRrvKM6zplXfA9SahXaARmg_uASjc2sKbw4sEy98p3qIKvEngNTiEo9npCPfR3-xLLlYRjEE1A1mRgdSkvoSGLLNT4ekNchC33qUzWqebAzS-rVIXXMadL8_SkDpKuUIClSG_2JksbLTrv1nz2Alf9Prt1Qgg/s3264/OSQJ2424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wk0-EbPWBwFDf0uAHNATrcRrvKM6zplXfA9SahXaARmg_uASjc2sKbw4sEy98p3qIKvEngNTiEo9npCPfR3-xLLlYRjEE1A1mRgdSkvoSGLLNT4ekNchC33qUzWqebAzS-rVIXXMadL8_SkDpKuUIClSG_2JksbLTrv1nz2Alf9Prt1Qgg/s320/OSQJ2424.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>So, Bogdan has had his second wartime birthday now. How we hope and pray that there will be victory for Ukraine before his next!<br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-73115330194520993712023-04-10T20:41:00.003+03:002023-05-03T10:26:04.980+03:00Christ is Risen!<p>We don't have a family photo from this year's Easter, so I'll post one from last year when we were under occupation, but all together.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-sBAzew-ga0lSUwnq8DGH_kMNa_n0vHUSrDw8KcYm-V_fR9SWcYdkw0Z8hYdNt_1osQboPxNxe2qNmM0bND4LkxePBqwESsMgq65xGRSXmqGTisOS0rO5feG4h6icA_VwO5iHfDjHLrYp9nuTOEq9PhUHXeNX7LXAWrAL6xzkuWuf76QAA/s3264/IMG_5109(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-sBAzew-ga0lSUwnq8DGH_kMNa_n0vHUSrDw8KcYm-V_fR9SWcYdkw0Z8hYdNt_1osQboPxNxe2qNmM0bND4LkxePBqwESsMgq65xGRSXmqGTisOS0rO5feG4h6icA_VwO5iHfDjHLrYp9nuTOEq9PhUHXeNX7LXAWrAL6xzkuWuf76QAA/s320/IMG_5109(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>We did have a good Easter this year, even if we're in different parts of the world and far from home. We talked about how hard our Easters have been for quite a while now: 2019--I was in the hospital at the beginning of my cancer journey, 2020--covid, 2021--the fire at church had just happened, 2022--Russian occupation, and now displacement. But all the same, Christ is risen!<br /></p><br />Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-28147711843454999072023-01-14T11:45:00.002+02:002023-01-14T11:53:25.225+02:00Neighbor/duck/memories<p>I confused people on Facebook. Let's see if I can be clearer here. Back in March, I shared a post. Apparently it was a poem? I just noticed text that stuck a chord with me and the picture. (People thought it was a poem I wrote. No, I clicked "Share" on someone else's post.) I don't know the author at all.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjO14kd9HEYfRRPC-6n5JBm_qiaFTABNQGj83xa0brKrzSd8V5hIMsLEkYPTeYiBPcPYUZJOY-gNmik8sg0Ry2L1gigY5rj7vyIEbg8Y2i96iMb_xWXAo9vCAyMwbc5-zmM0LM0qfw44WLNEec1BIiQCCssrsALltnYDhM4O6vig9jlC5fw/s1125/322380516_6081798508517399_6979023820283833385_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1125" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjO14kd9HEYfRRPC-6n5JBm_qiaFTABNQGj83xa0brKrzSd8V5hIMsLEkYPTeYiBPcPYUZJOY-gNmik8sg0Ry2L1gigY5rj7vyIEbg8Y2i96iMb_xWXAo9vCAyMwbc5-zmM0LM0qfw44WLNEec1BIiQCCssrsALltnYDhM4O6vig9jlC5fw/s320/322380516_6081798508517399_6979023820283833385_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Xoejq2BJF47Lrhbeti68kB3kM7X5G8CE2Z8Eu6x6iJzBQQNi6GC51yNRZ667FXVnl&id=100001718327095">Link to original post</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>At that time, I shared her post with these words of my own:</p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">I
will share this morning’s silliness, but the serious thoughts here are
the real thing and what I think, too. (Although, I won’t bother to dye
these new grey hairs.) I told my family the picture was
actually me and our duck this morning. At 6:30 a neighbor babushka
called me to say that our duck was on her roof. I woke Asya and we went
running over there. Babushka’s son is a child in an adult body because
of disability, and he was very excited to see us! And the duck! Once I
caught Bella, I realized that I couldn’t crawl back through the fence
holding her, so Asya went back to get the keys to our gate, while the
son let me out of their yard. Bella and I looked exactly like this
picture while we waited in the street, except that I was wearing pajamas
and forgot to put a wreath on my head. <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od"><img alt="😀" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tce/1/16/1f600.png" width="16" /></span></div><p> </p><p>And then jump ahead to now: on Thursday I was looking for a photo of our late elderly duck, and my search on Facebook brought up that post because of the word "duck" in it. It was very poignant to reread and remember, because we had just learned that our neighbor's son--the one I wrote about there--died from his long-term ailments. His death wasn't directly related to war violence (except for maybe all the fear and stress?), but in peace time he could have been treated at a hospital and lived longer. That morning when he found our duck on their roof was so funny; he was just so excited. Now I'll treasure that memory of him outside, trying to get video of the "rare bird," and going on and on about it. We'll miss him.<br /></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-61900505164885459202022-12-10T11:12:00.002+02:002022-12-10T11:12:30.209+02:00Odesa-Kyiv-Ivano Frankivsk<p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ap6Lv-k0PEwbId7Z4qXg4HOhGt_7nRfM6qBKGalEtjdI3TLEeHnTLVVFCtvuiiuqSZe8nTZc7wdQv4wtfmYpb_hp5tSYmzzMrSrBFVyh55wR5rQbRmJw81cO4cxvw4MC4sGK5qtjYSQoyTbHVwb7WrBKTdVM1oT_qaA96l2IR6EJ5YHeCQ/s3264/9295F393-133F-447D-A1D5-93E453B86AE7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ap6Lv-k0PEwbId7Z4qXg4HOhGt_7nRfM6qBKGalEtjdI3TLEeHnTLVVFCtvuiiuqSZe8nTZc7wdQv4wtfmYpb_hp5tSYmzzMrSrBFVyh55wR5rQbRmJw81cO4cxvw4MC4sGK5qtjYSQoyTbHVwb7WrBKTdVM1oT_qaA96l2IR6EJ5YHeCQ/s320/9295F393-133F-447D-A1D5-93E453B86AE7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Game night with Kherson friends here</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, here we are a whole week after our arrival in Ivano-Frankivsk. Again, I recommend reading Will's Facebook posts for details. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To backtrack quickly, though, on November 24--the nine-month anniversary of war in Ukraine and Thanksgiving Day in America--shelling picked up in our part of Kherson. Our pastor offered to send us to Odesa in a van that had brought humanitarian aid, if we could get ready to go very quickly. So, with shells whistling over us (Bogdan says that explosions are no big deal, he’s used to that, but whistling is BAD!) we took turns running out of the root cellar to grab some things from our home to take with us. And then we left. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That evening we got to Odesa, spent the night at Camp Lela, and then took a train to Kyiv the next day. During our week in Kyiv we applied for passports at the US embassy. That's easier said than done, because we had to pull together documents and do photos and print things when the power was often out, but it all went smoothly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then last Friday we got on a train from Kyiv to Ivano-Frankivsk. One person in our family is thrilled to be here; one rabbit was in deep depression*, and some people feel like her. Others bounce back and forth. We’re working on settling in; we plan to stay here until we can go home to Kherson. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ6HrXScPpDhs_iQXLv01IARPCjGf1-iE6qWXcSVXEnh8qmFPUAOdaQzgPmnKg7WsCot4qmppnmhycP96tLl4p5Bqgue0_yw4vp98ChEAtPZZV8ZanLDiybILkyJcWW72m25EAeEc71G8VaYN99-fxtHN71-XyoOZvD1sQtEvLL5d7jwhPQ/s3264/199EC4E9-FCA4-408E-AF39-FF1C6CFBB79D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ6HrXScPpDhs_iQXLv01IARPCjGf1-iE6qWXcSVXEnh8qmFPUAOdaQzgPmnKg7WsCot4qmppnmhycP96tLl4p5Bqgue0_yw4vp98ChEAtPZZV8ZanLDiybILkyJcWW72m25EAeEc71G8VaYN99-fxtHN71-XyoOZvD1sQtEvLL5d7jwhPQ/s320/199EC4E9-FCA4-408E-AF39-FF1C6CFBB79D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*She is doing better now. I started Googling her symptoms, and really, the internet said she was depressed. There are actually articles online about rabbit mental health. We followed all the suggestions about "cheering up your bunny," and it seems to be working. If only human emotions were so simple!</div><div><br /></div></div><p></p>Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11096572.post-23215228059632444622022-11-23T14:35:00.000+02:002022-11-23T14:35:00.173+02:0011.11.22It's not overstating to say that November 11 may have been the happiest day of my life. We know that the war goes on, and life is physically difficult now, but after 8+ months of enemy occupation now we are FREE and so, so happy about it! <div><br /></div><div>And, yes, we haven't had running water or electricity for two weeks now. We're stinky; in the evenings we sit around in the dark and cold (but tonight won't be so cold: Will and Jaan got our heat working!), during days we scurry around searching for internet and working on what needs to be done, and but still we're smiling inside or visibly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Will and many others start their daily updates with a count of how many days of war we've lived through. (If you haven't been following Will's posts on Facebook, you might want to. He has made his account public again, now that it's safe to do that. See especially the recent posts that he wrote while offline: about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0xxn7tshF6d8vfZ5VFmr8KWnBQ2TTmTVGCqzp4223DK65Q9bQSFMND6oEh5YJMZ3tl&id=100001737379500&__cft__[0]=AZXf8C6NQ-qKtd29iu-TBX0-aU8yAeZ8kqlCqz05UW9nFwzNKkvqefePkQj0VU6AFmud_aTbQxoro3gBlnQenElXLOfZHbTcnU-_JDZYOTi87hYeprHJgjO4qwC4eVseMkC5fs0Kezm9GPs5MjxsaPMq459H447oDDSLDDbQZzxWJA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R">Day 261</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0cfGu4UW7aRQ1RT6UmJFchHyWQwoQrLjAjABSnpNGU3CC3kfJFr38iJtHzhhmcrEdl&id=100001737379500&__cft__[0]=AZVDYBz2LEZBCEBiufKe1Sj-ZUVVEV9-jiyovJGzBwC32ywIQ65oSOafVtu8Doxm588EUbZRgIBcmoU5eRaEmr2jVAjKXO5Ov5VKhx3Z2yEm32_y2igmYz9bIc5JDpfVQJ8NiG-pPYeFUVgnpmkzX1I1awvE6K7KCa3sA_Fd3qCDWg&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R">Day 262</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid03156MAe6fSSqHYSLSqBimrpxuPwdbTmvroWKoWnP8SsK4HjXfidajujv4cnFVDEHil&id=100001737379500&__cft__[0]=AZXBszQeeJFRUk5qAAzyzMTSyG81bAxKBClkLGSMzlrPMXMoShM1QQA-fi-D2NhUY8p-S7eRNpjDC77EiP4VS1p9frkrEDY33z0EeTCgST10rtHlRh7w3Izysic7np4Eke7jM2Om-wMGXTitT1nb4NxsuxYY1SMCAXIEoFRXcijJ1A&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R">Day 263</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid022UnNyTYFHqNP6szF4FBLFi3JBGWR5A2hNv3m2LAAmYtW7aZHJbaTZ39KRXAEbbK4l&id=100001737379500&__cft__[0]=AZUNFbsHqRtcYn-UBeAJFKB-6ekJx_GmwMC7Xi6UQSjysq9FsPGzrCW-m6LjBp9s2igAyLHwNcIVKZKpIKRqFgXQlTAJmSmlvfusIMNN4sPcISf4OZYdfXLudWz--kBcmz-5TfYqxvyb5dz6DbUj6igk71T2f4hQKA9_NHuVy6WYgA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R">Day 264</a>, and so on.) Now it almost feels like we should also have a count of how many days of freedom we've enjoyed. As in, this is the Xth day of Kherson's freedom.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEc3gPJdrItXLefetA7xzQmAJ895SoYt08F5HgQqA1y291DZZ7CcMchmXK2e1ltjruDkTnm3nQWSWXDN3Qx9IR4riT0eLJunTabxWjhd4kAwtRXs4T0piqDXzYt040qmhqiHj4IwwqHROPoQCre6LlHXGVjIbRYwV1DeGIHAR7zO6eOsUKA/s3264/D7EA0169-2115-46E8-B96B-6FFCA8C5100F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEc3gPJdrItXLefetA7xzQmAJ895SoYt08F5HgQqA1y291DZZ7CcMchmXK2e1ltjruDkTnm3nQWSWXDN3Qx9IR4riT0eLJunTabxWjhd4kAwtRXs4T0piqDXzYt040qmhqiHj4IwwqHROPoQCre6LlHXGVjIbRYwV1DeGIHAR7zO6eOsUKA/s320/D7EA0169-2115-46E8-B96B-6FFCA8C5100F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p></div><div>In case someone hasn't seen this yet, Reuter's did an article from an interview with Will. They called him William and got the wrong age for me, plus mixing up a few other details, but overall it's good: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/among-khersons-liberated-us-family-who-lay-low-during-russian-occupation-2022-11-13/">The U.S. family who lay low during Russian occupation</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSYtCgOMqXtZsXlYJgE7t5QQtal_llXrW-4dcYJLAQN-fsg0EBnTCc5Qg39WtIumbgvtwJBDxap8wsdPG6Ceb612r6S6zaFDsRcMoNjN_DhMXerxRhN4yDH0nYM_M92yBMLdT1Mls5dM1CRm2KmZTP3kSRoblmnFhMFamtOpDA6OjviyY1Q/s3264/C3F123B0-5BD1-4797-8DA9-7D25F25945B6.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSYtCgOMqXtZsXlYJgE7t5QQtal_llXrW-4dcYJLAQN-fsg0EBnTCc5Qg39WtIumbgvtwJBDxap8wsdPG6Ceb612r6S6zaFDsRcMoNjN_DhMXerxRhN4yDH0nYM_M92yBMLdT1Mls5dM1CRm2KmZTP3kSRoblmnFhMFamtOpDA6OjviyY1Q/s320/C3F123B0-5BD1-4797-8DA9-7D25F25945B6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>I can't make any promises about regular updates here. Our connection is still very tentative. But I did want to be sure that people who aren't on Facebook read this. Thank you so much for your love, prayers, and support!Phyllishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529794989164847124noreply@blogger.com2